5 Fun and Unique Ways to Tackle Stress

Stress is a natural part of life, and something that we all deal with at some point or another – but that doesn’t mean it has to overwhelm your regular routine. If you’re finding yourself pulling your hair out at work, or counting down the moments until you can work the stress out at your local gym, then you might need to figure out some quick unique, and in the meantime.

Sometimes a quick bout of yoga or a mug of herbal tea isn’t what you need to stay Zen until you can start sweating away the stress. Fortunately, we have some alternative solutions for you to try, and we bet they’re going to make you smile.

1. Sing the Stress Away

Who cares what the neighbors say? We said we will try to make you smile, not so much your neighbors. OK, perhaps you do not want to do this late at night or early in the morning. You may not want to do this in public either.

When it comes to beating stress, your one-man musical in the shower is a fantastic way to wash away those feelings that you’d rather not deal with. A study published by the Journal of Behavioral Medicine even found that belting out a show tune or two helps to reduce the levels of cortisol in your system.

Since cortisol is the hormone responsible for triggering stress, a quick tune could be essential. What’s more, singing helps to increase the production of oxytocin – a chemical that’s perfect for helping your body to relax. The best part of this research is that you don’t even need to be able to sing to feel the benefits!

2. Watch a Few YouTube Videos

Laughter is a scientifically proven way to fight back against stress, and enjoy yourself while you do it. Even simply glancing at something funny has the ability to start the process of your mind calming itself down, thanks to the release of stress-related hormones like cortisol, dopac, and epinephrine.

Beyond simply easing angst, short clips of funny content have also been found to increase the flow of blood to the heart, according to scientists at the University of Maryland. So find your favorite YouTuber and indulge! You have the perfect excuse.

Perhaps you can find a video for the next Transformers movie, you cannot beat that! How about a video for 24 ? an amazing show. Or a video of a cute little kitten having her belly rubbed. If you can find a video that shows the Lakers or the Yankees losing, that may make you feel better if you do not care for those teams as many people do not.

3. Think Green

Have you ever wondered why the people who spend most of their time surrounded by nature are often in such a good mood? A little bit of natural greenery in your surroundings is perfect for weeding out stress, according to research. Studies have found that simply walking through a room that has been filled with plants is enough to reduce feelings of anxiety and lower your blood pressure.

If you don’t have room for a plant on your desk at work, try changing the background on your desktop to something more floral. Science has found that even pictures of plants can be enough to improve cognitive function and reduce stress. Just think of all the fresh oxygen they are producing!

4. Turn that Frown Upside Down

Doing a quick headstand or handstand could be a great way to reduce stress. Of course, if that seems like too much effort for you, you can always sit upside down on your office chair for a moment, so long as you allow the blood to rush to your head, and take the pressure off your spine.

Research has shown that inversion helps to promote relaxation, quiet the mind, and also give you a new perspective on a difficult set of circumstances. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, getting a little upside down time in can be a judicious solution. Even propping your legs up against a wall can be enough to help.

Just try not to do any flips since you are not trying to win a gold medal here.

5. Scream and Shout

Finally, what than to scream about it? If you’re having a seriously bad day, don’t be afraid to make your way to the roof of your office building and scream out to the wind. The chances are that you’ll end up feeling a lot better after you’ve made a lot of noise about the things that are bothering you. Do not do this in the office though or to any co-workers. That will make your day much worse.

In fact, research has supported the relaxation benefits of screaming so much that products have even been produced to help you scream your heart out as loud as you like, without disrupting the people around you as already sort of insinuated. If you’re worried about making a scene, take a quick look online and see what you can get to replace your pillow.